Chilli capital in turmoil

The recent floods have devastated Kunri, in Umerkot, known as Asia’s Chilli capital in turmoil rendering its farming community destitute. Kunri chilli fields initially suffered from excessive heat and then were subjected to unprecedented rains as weather changed completely. The chilli plants completely withered and one can see the desiccated, rotten plants all over painting a picture of widespread devastation. The official estimates are staggering particularly for chilli production. Pakistan is ranked fourth in the world for chili production with 150,000 acres of farms producing 143,000 tons annually. In Kunri’s bustling wholesale chilli market, Mirch Mandi, the effect is also being felt. Though mounds of bright red chili dot the market, traders said there is a huge drop on previous years. Last year, Chilli capital in turmoil at this time, there used to be around 8,000 to 10,000 bags of chilies in the market but now the production has come to a grinding halt. It will take quite a long time to render the devastated chilli fields into a functional position enabling them to produce the level of production before the floods struck and it is a long ask. TW

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